Go Dores!

Let's Go, Black and Gold! Tonight Sarah June and I ventured to Memorial Gym to catch the Vandy boys throw down against the University of South Alabama. (If you're wondering, that means they are USA and their colors are red, white, and blue... wow.)

Now, you need to know that June is a hard core basketball fan. She played growing up and just plain enjoys it! I.... didn't. play growing up, that is. I do enjoy the game... i just don't get all the rules. The evening was full of, "see the little clock behind the goal? that's the shot clock..." and the like. She's helpful, that June. Together we are very hardcore up in the nose bleeds! Just look...

Afterwards, we ran into Jimmy and Courtney. They're some of the most dedicated fans around. When i say dedicated, i mean i don't think Jimmy has missed a game in years. He comes from a long line of Vandy fans- its a heritage, really. He spent his college years acting as one of the team managers... You are impressed and i get that... it makes sense. He's that awesome. Here's to you, Jim Jim. Check out that V U symbol!


The Commodores finally won after double over time! It was really touch and go there for a while. We all know a "W" on the books is all that matters! (does that sound like i know what I'm talking about?)


So- before all of the Vandy excitement, i dropped by Provident to see old work pals. It was as lovely to see them as I had anticipated. We girls used to have a daily "meeting" where we giggled and solved the problems of the world over snackwells crackers and diet coke. Today was no exceptions. Except someones mom forgot snacks. So, we got to chatting and before i knew it, i was laughing from my toes. Per usual. Somehow we got to the fact that my recent co-workers are intense Harry Potter enthusiasts. I remembered them calling me a "muggle" at some point last year. Not knowing what it meant made it about as offensive as someone calling me a bad word in German. Today i got my explanation, though. This is Michelle's direct quote:
"A Muggle is a non-magical creature... you. me? no." I laughed a lot. Such fun catching up with those peeps.

All in all- I'd call that a good day. Today i also rediscovered "India.Arie"... that just graduated it to a great day!

Nickel for your thoughts...

This evening, I (Kelley Lynne Kirker) encountered the great "Nickel Creek" at the one and only Historic Ryman Auditorium. It is their farewell tour. A moment of silence please....

IT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!!!!

Sara, Chris, and Shawn brought it in a face-melting awesome way! They no less than covered "Toxic" by Britney. The number one stunner of the evening was their rendish of "I Want you Back" by the Jackson 5! I just love their energy and talent.

You know that I am constantly thinking about your needs- so, i threw caution to the wind and ignored the "no camera rule" to bring you this- a sub-par snapshot of the talented bunch. The bassist later took to clogging. I recommend catching them when they come to your town. I can't say that strongly enough without expletives, and you know i am a family friendly blogger. suffice it to say, you need to ask Santa for tickets if you've not already had your face melted with their charm and raw talent.

My favorite lyric of the evening was definitely when Chris sang, "Who will I bring to the Grammys and make out with when i win? If you're going to leave, set me up with one of your friends..." hilarious, that guy... by the way, if Chris Thile is ever within reach, I'll probably embarrass myself. just a warning.

Take my word when i say it was a fantastic evening!! Made possible, of course, by Scott and Becka Blackburn. Here's to you two and your generosity! Michelle, Becka, and I enjoyed the very impressive air-violin stylings of a lady, i like to think of as, named Rhonda. Rhonda sat in front of us and i almost watched her as much as i watched the Creek. Here we are - happy to be together!

After the excitement of running into a bunch of cool peeps in the foyer (which, i have oft wondered is actually pronounced FOY YAY or if i say it because i like the way it sounds), I headed to an equally renowned establishment... Roberts. Ole Roberts is a honky tonk that's always the right place to be. I hopped in to say hi to Jerrod, PY, and Forrester. Those fellas are nothing but a good time. PBRs were enjoyed. a dance was had. smiles were shared. What more could a girl ask for? Here are the famed gentlemen.

On that note, I shall leave you with a jolly "good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite". Until tomorrow, my public. night night.

Can't Win for Losing...

Poor B.

Is anyone else hopelessly devoted to "The Biggest Loser" airing on Tuesday evenings on NBC? Not to be confused with all the awesomely motivational archived episodes airing on higher cable channels, of course.

Well, this girl is a loyal Blue Team, Red Team, and now Black Team enthusiast. Only in America could we live sedentary lives, eat rubbish, and then roll over ten years later to discover we're obese. Only in that same America could we then capitalize on such a sad state by asking rotund people to bare their moobies (man boobies... keep up) and back fat week by week as we reward them for the care they should have always been taking of themselves. ALSO only in this America would we give them $25,000 and numerous prizes along the way. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Now, don't hear me knock it. I am just pointing out the (hopefully) obvious. To say i tune in each week puts it mildly. I think about the show when its not on. Its like Bob is whispering in my ear during that impossible sculpt class on Monday nights. I feel so motivated when the show comes to a close that i am more likely to want to exercise than snack... and thats saying a lot. That is, until this week. I mean... of course, when they showed the most recently axed player looking trim and dedicated at home, i got newly energized for my own family competition. The only problem is that it was Bryan who got sent home. He lets me call him B. Sweet, sweet B. I just couldn't be happy this time. In the past, the ones eliminated drove me nuts anyway. I think i actually said, "oh good... anyone but B" once or twice. There's a dedicated viewership at my house. Chelsea joins Anna, Adrienne, and me each week to sit down and soak in the wonderful treats the DVR has to deliver to us minus commercials. (God Bless technology, while He's at it!) Chelsea was first to open my eyes to the appeal of B. He flew under my radar at first. As she pointed out his utter lovability, i fell victim to his boyish charm. I am now wondering if its out of line for me to find a way to send him a card with a diet cherry coke with vanilla from Sonic.

Basically, i feel like a friend got kicked out of the club today and i want to kick back. Poor B.

You know who else i feel for? My sweet twin who spent the night snuggling with her toilet as a result of a stomach bug. She just sounded so darn pitiful on the phone today. Thank goodness Chad is still as perf as i believe him to be... he even called my nurse mom to make sure he was doing everything right to care for her. Have i mentioned i love him?? I love you, Kris, but don't go thinking this gives you the lead... i shall win this!

So, in long, i would like to raise a glass to the efforts of Bryan- you're the Biggest Loser in my book. Lose on, loser. Lose on.

now announcing...

Ladies and Gentlemen, i would like to announce the arrival of a very special member of my life.... MY NEW LAPTOP!!!! Thank you Dad and Mom for taking a chance on a girl's dream of owning and running her own business! You make all of this typing possible!


" Isn't she lovely.... Isn't she beautiful..." Thank you, Steve Wonder, for putting into words what my fingers are thinking! Theres SUCH a profound difference between the ease of this piece of technology and the rickety $50 disease ridden dinosaur i was getting frustrated with before. I am SO GRATEFUL!!

I can barely stand to be away from her. Before i tip toe into the realm of creepy, i will sign off. Just wanted to give the Parents one HUGE shout out for making this girl's dreams come true!!

thank you, and good night.

"Horses Horses Horses Horses"

Are you with me? Does everyone else take to singing like Meg Ryan in "Sleepless in Seattle" when they think of Christmas carols?

Before Thanksgiving of each year i find myself a tad annoyed with the premature arrival of all things Christmasy. Even to the point of going out of my way to avoid shopping for gifts (yeah... that's why), listening to the music, or eating the holiday yummies until the appointed time. We all know the appointed time is midnight the day after Thanksgiving, by the by.

Once the time has come to jump in head over heels into the seasonal bliss, I am like an elf whose come out of hibernation in time to live on a diet of hot cocoa and candy canes! I even sing carols in my sleep. I get so excited about seeing the lights on all the houses, enjoying the nip in the air, and above all practicing how to function well on three hours of sleep on Christmas day because i just KNOW i've heard Santa on the roof. You've never met another 28 year-old who gets more excited about handing out all the gifts on the big day. My family named me the elf. I have earned this title. I can't sleep. I get so excited about my stocking. SO excited. I can't be bothered to bathe and i am nearly always the one to wake up everyone in the house. I am basically possessed.

I reveal these facts to you, my faithful readers, to tell you that something momentous happened on Lauderdale Road tonight. WE. GOT. OUR. TREE! Its on.

It. Is. On.

We've even been known to load up on mistletoe each year. When i say "load up", i mean Sarah June somehow finds some wholesaler who lets her leave with enough for everyone in Nashville to find romance. It literally hangs from every surface. That sure seems promising... we'll see what excitement looms beneath those tiny bundles of hope.

As i finish this post, let me leave you with something incredibly exciting...

ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!!!! eeeeeeeeeeeee! "Lets hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling, ring-ting-tingling too...."

Lets Take it From the Top

Before i get ahead of myself, i figure i will offer a little re-cap of my current state of affairs. I know there are approximately 4.5 people who are concerned with the details, of course, but i feel like starting this blog out of no where seems out of whack. Though, there would be something funny about pretending that we (you and i) are in the middle of a conversation...

So, I will start by saying the reason i have wandered into this uncharted blog territory is for one person. Well, its probably more appropriate to say 1.5 persons. Mrs. Courtney "Coco" Strubel Armistead. She is great with child, thus, she counts as more than just one person. We've taken to nicknaming her unborn child Jasmine ever since we learned that something the size of a piece of rice had begun forming in her womb. Please note that no sex has been disclosed yet... it is simply the result of habit - calling her a her that is. Still, Jazzy is probably her more appropriate given name. Jazzy and i tend to grab lunch from time to time. Coco and i have what we know and love as a Daytime relationship. its a beautiful thing and i recommend it to anyone. Basically what you need to have your very own D.R. is to leave your full time/well paying/ benefit providing job. If you are me, you don't leave so much as they show you to the door and take back the electronic card that gave you entrance to the building with a firm handshake and a "God is in Control". If you're Coco, you simply leave the teaching job you are brilliant at in order to have a moment's peace with your new husband before getting knocked up. Well, she got a few days, anyway.

Coco. What fun we have. She is a dear dear friend and i am only mildly obsessed with her in the same way i am mildly obsessed with peanut M&Ms. In all seriousness, she loves the Lord and reminds me of His love for me on a daily basis. she has a way with reminding me of the truth that i need and love. so, i just needed to mention that in case no one else ever reads this blog... she'd know from whence it came.

I need to mention that i have the best friends a girl could hope for!! College girls who love me well and Nashville sissers/roomates who love me well! I just can't tell you how favored i feel because of these relationships! They teach teach teach me. you just don't know...

So, by now you've figured out i left/got left by Provident Label Group. It was and is a good thing now. It just stung a little in February/March when it all happened. I enjoy having stability and that single movement ushered me into the realm of having precious little be stable and constant in my world. My family, friends/roomates, and church have been my buoy on these harsh ocean waves.

I JUST don't know what people do without twin sisters!!! i pity you all, really.

Kristin got married in August... to the last living knight in shining armor. or is it armour. Nevertheless, y'all HAVE to know Chad. he's amazing. and that word doesn't cut it. i love him. you KNOW i love him if he's allowed to have Kristin. she. is. my. world. They are even more amazing married. i mean that so wholeheartedly. That wedding was obviously a large part of my year and life. It was thrilling to be doing "odd jobs" during this time to be able to dedicate two whole weeks to time in SC for this event. i just can't say enough how wonderful it was.

Another landmark on the road map of my year is weddings in, general! I have either attended or participated in 17 weddings, my friends. It takes alot to have any sort of fondness for this hallowed event after 5 much less 17. But it was every bit of 17 and i have to say... they were all great! Family and friends alike got married this year. I am a blessed gal... blessed but ready to see Wedding Fest 07 come to a close.

Lastly, but most definitely NOT least, I have started my own business! Organize Nashville is now in full swing! i even got an outstanding logo made by Addie Diller. love her- she's so good to me. So, i began the journey that has been in the works for years.. a job i feel keenly equipped for and extremely enthusiastic about! I am just so thrilled about helping people move through the junk in their homes that inhibits them from being efficient and peaceful. I love that i get to help people simplify. This is turning into much too long of a blog posting to go into any more detail. Suffice it to say that one year ago, i could never have dreamt big enough to imagine having a mostly flexible schedule, owning a business i love, feeling peaceful, and having a church that i absolutely LOVE. more on them later.

This is most definitely a Thanksgiving themed blog. so, thanks, Lord. you're amazingly good to me!

Paying the Piper

wow.

i'm really full... and now i must suffer the pain of being STUFFED.

not just "wow, i should stop eating now.... i'm satisfied" kind of full. I mean, "get me some elastic pants in two sizes bigger... and hurry" kind of full. Reason being, i- unlike most of the world- indulged in absolute excess these past few days. I know i am in good company in America, but we're the fat ones. If only it hadn't tasted so good going down, it would be easy to make those healthy choices! Bottom line, operation "Don't Feed the Kelley" commences immediately!

We have a competition going on in the Kirker/Rochester families. We've decided to do our own family version of The Biggest Loser. Whoever has the highest percentage of weight loss, between tomorrow morning (Saturday) and Christmas morning, WINS! not just bragging rights. MONEY! this poor girl is ready to make some dollas!

Those last two paragraphs were earned, mind you. There were some intensive eating sessions done here in lovely western NC/ Eastern TN. These folks could make anything taste good... its like everything is coated with fairy dust and unicorn feathers- magic. i literally felt like a snake today. you know- those snakes that swallow whole rhinos! i could feel the fried chicken going down sideways as my poor body did its best to break it all down.

In short- thank you, Pigeon Forge, especially for the nippy weather, deep fried treats and backdrop for some intense family togetherness! what memories were made.

Off to study vegetarian minimalist eating...

Pirates on the Dragon's Tail

For starters, i would like to address you, my public. It is for you that i begin this illustrious journey. It is for you that i chronicle my bizarre life. It is for YOU. So... here goes nothing.

Today i discovered something completely fascinating. It turns out that when one drives eastward from the great Music City, one will reach Knoxville. One could then make the decision to turn off in the direction of Robbinsville, NC for the sake of spending Thanksgiving with family. I am the fortunate beneficiary of some new family members. (Actually, this raises a question i have long had... if my sister accquires in-laws, do i have any sort of ownership of them also?) Nevertheless, Chad's (brother in law) extended family lives in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Mom, Dad and me got invited to join in on what promises to be a memorable holiday! It turns out that just shy of this cozy small town exists a national attraction. The Tail of the Dragon. Motorcyclists come from far and wide to enjoy this mountainous stretch of road. That is because within 11 miles exists 311 turns! We're talking sharp ones, y'all! Curves that sane people take at 20 mph. These bikers rage on this road at high speeds for the thrill of it all. People stand on the side of the road and take pictures! it is serious! You can imagine i was surprised to learn this while driving cluelessly through the autumn trees. I was also surprised to learn, upon arrival, that no women should drive this stretch of road alone! How was i to know there are PIRATES "in these parts". Alas, it seems there are people who will literally force you to the side of the road and steal your belongings! Shocking! My story, however, ends with not nearly so much excitement... it ends with a greasy calzone at Papa's Pizza and hugs from Mom and Dad. And later beef stew at Chad's granny's crib. so awesome.

Thats all for tonight. I'm tired and the pull out love seat is calling my name! Thank you, Microtel, and Goodnight.